Breading apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for breading food items, particularly meat patties, in which an item to be breaded is deposited on a first rotatable cylinder and wetted with a breading liquid. The wetted item is transferred from the first cylinder to a second rotatable cylinder via a slide which permits drainage of excess breading liquid from the item sliding down the slide, the excess liquid being collected in a sump below the first cylinder. Breading is fed onto the second cylinder at the top thereof for breading the wetted item delivered to the second cylinder. Excess breading is returned to a breading supply. A third rotatable cylinder squeezes to a predetermined thickness the breaded item conveyed forward by the second cylinder.

United States Patent [1 1 Heun [ June 12, 1973 BREADING APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Leonard A. Heim, 2307 Arkansas Road, Highland, 111. 62249 Primary Examiner-John P. McIntosh Attorney-Koenig, Senniger, Powers & Leavitt [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for breading food items, particularly meat patties, in which an item to be breaded is deposited on a first rotatable cylinder and wetted with a breading liquid. The wetted item is transferred from the first cylinder to a second rotatable cylinder via a slide which permits drainage of excess breading liquid from the item sliding down the slide, the excess liquid being collected in a sump below the first cylinder. Breading is fed onto the second cylinder at the top thereof for breading the wetted item delivered to the second cylinder. Excess breading is returned to a breading supply. A third rotatable cylinder squeezes to a predetermined thickness the breaded item conveyed forward by the second cylinder.

18 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PAIENTEBJUMZW SHEET 1 BF 4 FIGI Pmmmmnzmn 3,738,313

SHEET 3 05-4 FIGS PMENTEU JUN I 2 75 SHEEI LN'II FIGS) BREADING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus for breading food items, more particularly to apparatus for breading meat patties or the like.

Reference may be made to the following U.S. patents, of which I am aware in this field: Nos. 943,284, 1,499,347, 1,801,572, 2,522,847, 2,659,338, 2,659,339, 2,731,942, 2,782,754, 2,845,040, 2,855,893, 3,045,640, 3,536,034 and 3,547,075.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Among the several objects of this invention may be noted the provision of improved apparatus for breading food items, capable of being more readily cleaned; the provision of apparatus of this class particularly for breading meat patties or the like, with provision for compressing the breaded patties to a predetermined desired thickness; the provision of apparatus of 'this class having improved means for wetting the food items with a breading liquid and improved means for applying the breading (cracker meal, for example) to the wetted items; the provision of such apparatus with means for efficiently recycling excess breading liquid and breading; and the provision of such breading apparatus at considerably lower cost than prior commercial breading apparatus.

In general, breading apparatus made in accordance with this invention comprises first and second cylinders each rotatable on a generally horizontal axis, the second cylinder being located forward of the first cylinder, means for transferring an item from the forward side of the first cylinder generally to the top of the second cylinder, said first cylinder being rotatable in the direction for conveying an item to be breaded deposited thereon generally at the top of the first cylinder to said transfer means for being transferred to the second cylinder, means for delivering a breading liquid to wet an item on the first cylinder, and means above said second cylinder for delivering breading thereto at the top thereof, said second cylinder being rotatable in the direction for conveying a wetted item which has been transferred thereto forward and under said breading delivering means.

Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a breading apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detailed section;

FIG. 5 is an end elevation of the apparatus as viewed from the right of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail showing the wetting system;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section on line 7-7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a view on line 8-8 of FIG. '2;

FIG. 9 is a section on line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the drive for the apparatus (viewed from the opposite side from FIG. 1 and FIG. 11 is an enlarged detail showing the breading and squeezing system.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, first more particularly to FIG. 2, apparatus of this invention for breading food items, and particularly meat patties or the like, is shown to comprise a first or wetting cylinder 1 and a second or breading cylinder 3, each rotatable on a horizontal axis. The second cylinder 3 is located forward of and below the first cylinder, the term forward" being in relation to the direction of movement of food items through the apparatus. Reference numeral 5 generally designates a means for transferring an item from the forward side of the first cylinder 1 to the top of the second cylinder 3. The first cylinder 1 is rotatable in the direction (clockwise as viewed in FIG. 2) for conveying on its cylindrical peripheral surface to the transfer means 5 an item such as a meat patty P to be breaded deposited on the top of the first cylinder for transfer of the item to the second cylinder 3. The patties P will preferably be automatically dropped one-by-one on to the top of the cylinder 1 from a conventional patty forming machine the lower part of which is indicated at 7 in FIGS. 1 and 2. Such machines are well known, and need not be described here in detail.

At 9 is indicated means for delivering a breading liquid (which may be a thin animal blood and water composition, for example, in the case of meat patties) to wet a patty P (or such other item as may be handled) on the first cylinder 1, wetting it on its top, bottom and all around its periphery. This means comprises a spray nozzle 11 continuously supplied with breading liquid from a suitable source via a suitable pump (not shown) or by gravity and via a hose line 13 adapted, as shown in FIG. 6, to deliver arelatively wide thin stream or ourtain LC of the liquid (wider than a patty) in rearward direction relative to the direction of movement of the top of cylinder 1 back toward the top of the cylinder. As a result, a shallow pool of breading liquid such as indicated at LP in FIG. 6 is sustained on top of the cylinder. Thus, when a patty P drops down onto the top of cylinder 1, it drops down into the pool LP so that its bottom is wet with the breading liquid. As the patty moves forward with cylinder 1, it passes through the stream or curtain LC of the liquid and this wets the top and periphery of the patty.

The transfer means 5 comprises a slide inclined downwardly from the forward side of cylinder 1 (its right side as viewed in FIG. 2) to the top of the cylinder 3, with its upper and rearward end engaging the periphery of the cylinder 1 at a location around and down from the top of the cylinder 1 (about 60 around and down from the top as shown in FIG. 2) and with its lower and forward end adjacent the periphery of the second cylinder 3 rearward of the top of the second cylinder. It is formed for drainage of liquid therethrough, as will appear. Means constituted by a receptacle forming a sump 13 is provided under the cylinder 1 for collecting excess breading liquid draining down off cylinder 1 and through the slide 5.

At 15 is indicated means above the second or breading cylinder 3 for continuously delivering breading, such as cracker meal, to the top of cylinder 3, which is continuously rotatable in the direction (clockwise as viewed in FIG. 2) for conveying a wetted patty P which hasbeen transferred. thereto (by sliding down the slide 5) forward and under means 15. This means com-. prises a delivery hopper 17 which is maintained full of breading, and which has a slot 19 in its bottom 20 (see FIGS. 8 and 9) extending lengthwise of cylinder 3 for exit of a breading in a curtain BC (see FIG. 11) wider than a patty. The breading flows continuously down and out through this slot to sustain a shallow bed of breading such as indicated at BB on top of the cylinder 3 (see FIG. 11). Thus, when a wetted patty slides down off slide 5 onto the top of cylinder 3, it slides onto the bed of breading so that its bottom is breaded, and as it moves forward with cylinder 3, which rotates clockwise as shown in FIGS. 2 and 11 for conveying the wetted body under the slot 19 of the hopper 17, it passes through the curtain BC of breading to bread its top and periphery.

The apparatus is shown as comprising a pair of side frame plates each designated 21 on legs 23 providing a space below the plates. The cylinders 1 and 3 are stainless steel drums, for example, on shafts 25 and 27, respectively, journalled in the side plates. Shaft 25 of cylinder 1 is journalled in bearings 29 which are vertically adjustable for vertical adjustment of cylinder 1 in vertical slots 31 in the side plates 21. Shaft 27 of cylinder 3 is journalled in bearings 33 which are horizontally adjustable in horizontal slots 35 in the side plates.

The slide 5 comprises a plurality of rods 37 held sideby-side with drainage spaces therebetween (of less width than the pattydiameter) by having lower end portions bent as indicated at 39 and secured in diametrical holes in a bar 41 extending between the side plates adjacent the top of cylinder 3. This bar has reduced end extensions 43 (see FIG. 4) received in one pair of a plurality of pairs of holes 45 in the side plates, a plurality of such pairs of holes being provided to enable positioning of the bar in a number of different locations for various elevations of cylinder 1. The holes 45 are of slightly larger diameter than the bar proper so that the bar may be readily removed by sliding it axially to disengage one end extension from its hole 45, then tilting the bar and disengaging its other end extension from its hole 45. The bent lower end portions 39 of the rods extend up and forward from the bar 41, and rods 37 proper extend back and up from the free forward ends of portions 39 and have their upper ends engaging cylinder l at a location around and down from its top.

The sump 13 is in the form of a rectangular pan having a rim 47 at the top supported at its sides on bars 49 which may be mounted in various vertical positions on the inside of side plates 21 via bolts 51 in holes 53. At 54 is indicated a pump for pumping breading liquid from the sump back to the breading liquid supply for recirculation. A tray 55 (e.g., a stainless steel panel) extends down and back from below the lower end of the slide 5 to the sump. This tray is mounted adjacent its lower end on a bar 57 (like bar 41) having reduced end extensions 59 received in one pair of a plurality of pairs of holes 61 in the side plates for adjustment purposes. The tray has a downwardly extending right-angle lip 63 at its upper end engaging the cylinder 3 at a location around and back from the top of this cylinder (about 35 around and back as shown in FIG. 2). This lip is directly under the lower end of slide 5, and acts as a breading retainer on the cylinder 3, holding breading on top of cylinder 3 to provide the bed BB of breading (see FIG. 11).

The breading hopper 17 is constituted by an opentop rectangular pan having a rim 65 around its top. .The slot 19 in the bottom 20 of the hopper for exit of breading is located toward one end of the hopper, and the hopper 17 is mounted between the side plates 21 with this slot generally directly above the top of cylinder 3 and with the pan inclined downward toward its said one end for gravity flow of breading down toward the slot. The latter is preferably of the shape shown in FIG. 8, and a suitable slide valve or shutter 67 is provided for varying its effective size to control the rate of flow of breading down and out through the slot. The shutter is slidable on the bottom 20 of the hopper, having a stem 67a slidable in a.slot 68 in the bottom of the hopper with a spring 69 biasing the stem and shutter downward. The bottom 20 of the hopper at its high end rests on a bar 70 extending between the side plates, and the rim of the hopper at its low end bears on a bar 71 extending between the side plates. Bars 70 and 71 may be made like bar 41 with reduced end extensions received in holes 73 in the side plates.

At 75 is indicated a third rotatable cylinder located adjacent the second cylinder 3 in position to squeeze a breaded patty P being conveyed forward by the cylinder 3 (clockwise as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 11) against the periphery of the second cylinder to compress the patty to a predetermined thickness. Cylinder 75 is a stainless steel drum, for example, of smaller diameter than cylinder 3, on a shaft 77 journalled in bearings 79 which are horizontally adjustable in horizontal slots 81 in the side plates 21 via adjusting screws 83 to change the spacing of cylinder 75 from cylinder 3 for varying the thickness of the patties. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 11', cylinder 75 is located around from and forward of the top of cylinder 3. At 85 is indicated an exit slide, which is essentially similar to slide 5, for exit delivery of breaded and squeezed patties from the cylinder 3. The rods of slide 85 are indicated at 87, its bar (which is like bar 41) at 89 and the holes for receiving the reduced end extensions ofthe bar 89 are indicated at 91. Rods 87 are spaced (like rods 37) sufficiently for passage therebetween of excess breading dispensed from the hopper 17, the spacing being less than the patty diameter. At 93 is indicated a blade extending rearward from forwardly extending arms such as indicated at 95 on the bearings 79 underneath cylinder 75 with its forward end engaging the cylinder 75 in the nip of cylinders 75 and 3 to prevent breaded patties from clinging to cylinder 75. A spring 96 biases the blade into engagement with the cylinder 75.

Excess breading passing through the spaces between rods 87 of the exit slide 85 drops into an elongate funnel means 97 mounted below the cylinder 3 and slide 85 extending lengthwise of the cylinder with its top 99 just below the cylinder 3 between the side plates 21 and its bottom 101 (which is relatively narrow) in the space below the side plates and above floor level. This funnel means collects the excess breading for funnelling it into the buckets 103 of a bucket conveyor 105 which constitutes means for returning the excess breading to the hopper 17. This conveyor comprises an endless series of the buckets 103 carried by a pair of endless chains 107, the buckets extending between and being pivotally supported at their ends by the chains, each bucket having pivot pins 108 at its ends received in openings in lugs 108a on the chains for this purpose. The chains are trained around a first upper pair of sprockets 109 carried by arms 111 extending up and out from one side plate 21, a second upper pair of sprockets 113 carried by arms 115 extending up and out from the other side plate 21, a first lower pair of sprockets 117 carried by arms 119 extending down and out from one side plate, and a second lower pair of sprockets 121 carried by arms 123 extending down and out from the other side plate. The lower sprockets are so located that the bucket conveyor has a lower reach (indicated at 105A) extending below the bottom 101 of the funnel 97 (from end-to-end thereof) and the upper sprockets are so located that the bucket conveyor has an upper reach (indicated at 105B) extending over the hopper 17 (see FIG. 5). The buckets are of triangular cross section pivoted on the chains by means of the pins 108 which are removably received in the lugs 108a on the chains, and normally assume an upright position by gravity. In the lower reach 105A, the buckets are side-by-side without any substantial space between them (see particularly FIG. 7) so that essentially all the excess breading dropping out of the bottom of the funnel 97 falls into the buckets.

Means is provided for effecting dumping of breading from the buckets 103 of the conveyor 105 as they travel in the upper reach 105B over the hopper 17, by invertlng the buckets. This means includes a pair of friction disks or wheels 125 for each bucket at the end of the bucket on its pivot axis. The wheels 125 on each bucket are engageable, as the buckets travel over the hopper 17, with tracks 127 spanning the side plates 121 at the top thereof, the arrangement being such that the wheels are thereby caused to rotate to turn the bucket on its pivot axis to invert it for dumping the breading therefrom into the hopper 17, and then to return the bucket to its upright position.

The cylinders l, 3 and 75 are adapted to be continuously driven via a belt drive such as indicated at 129 in FIG. including a belt 131 trained around pulleys 133, 135 and 137 on the ends of shafts 25, 27 and 77 outside one of the side plates 21, around a drive pulley 139 adapted to be driven by an electric motor 141 and around idler pulleys 143 on the outside of this side plate. The bucket conveyor 105 is adapted to be continuously driven by an electric motor 145 via a belt drive 147 and gearing 149 (see FIG. 5).

In the operation of the apparatus, the cylinders 1, 3 and 75 are continuously driven in the directions indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2 by motor 141. The bucket conveyor 105 is continuously driven in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIG. 5 by motor 145. Breading liquid is continuously sprayed out by nozzle 11. Breading is continuously dispensed from hopper 17 by gravity discharge through slot 19 (adjusted for appropriate rate of flow of the breading). Patties P (or such other food items as may be breaded) are deposited one after another on top of the first cylinder 1, dropping into the pool LP (FIG. 6) of breading liquid thereon for wetting the patty bottoms. Each patty is then carried forward around and down by cylinder 1 and is thus conveyed through the curtain LC of breading liquid (FIG. 6) for wetting its top and periphery. Having thus been completely wetted with breading liquid, the patty is then stripped from the cylinder 1 by the upper end of the slide 5 and slides down the latter to the top of the second cylinder 3 (sliding down easily due to the rods 37 of slide 5 generally being wet with the breading liquid). Excess breading liquid passes between the rods 37 of slide 5 and thus drains into the sump 13, from which pump 54 returns it for recycling.

The wetted patty P drops off the lower end of the slide into the bed BB of breading (FIG. 11) on the top os cylinder 3 and is thus breaded on the bottom. It is conveyed forward by cylinder 3 through the curtain BC of breading (FIG. 11) for breading its top and periphery. Having been completely breaded, and continuing to move forward and around and down, the patty is squeezed to the desired thickness by cylinder 75 and then stripped from cylinder 3 by the upper end of exit slide 85, down which it slides out of the apparatus. Excess breading drops into the buckets 103 of conveyor 105 and is returned thereby to the hopper 17.

It is important that breading apparatus be readily cleaned, and the above-described apparatus of this invention fulfills this requirement. The cylinders 1, 3 and 5, which as noted may be made of stainless steel, are quite readily cleaned. The sump 13, the hopper l7 and the slides 5 and 85 are readily removable for cleaning them and for facilitating cleaning the cylinders. The buckets 103 may readily be removed for cleaning simply by spreading apart the chains 107 in either of their vertical reaches to slip the bucket pivots out of the lugs therefor on the chains.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for breading food items comprising first and second cylinders each rotatable on a generally horizontal axis, the second cylinder being located forward of the first cylinder means for transferring an item from the forward side of the first cylinder generally to the top of the second cylinder, said first cylinder being rotatable in the direction for conveying an item to be breaded deposited thereon generally at the top of the first cylinder to said transfer means for being transferred to the second cylinder, means for delivering a breading liquid to wet an item on the first cylinder, and means above said second cylinder for delivering breading thereto at the top thereof, said second cylinder being rotatable in the direction for conveying a wetted item which has been transferred thereto forward and under said breading delivering means.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 having a third cylinder located adjacent the second cylinder in position to squeeze a breaded item being conveyed forward by the second cylinder against the periphery of the second cylinder to compress said breaded item to a predetermined thickness.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first cylinder is vertically adjustable and said second and third cylinders are horizontally adjustable.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 including an exit slide having its upper end engaging the second cylinder down which breaded items slide out of the apparatus.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said exit slide is formed for passage of excess breading therethrough.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 having means under the first cylinder for collecting excess breading liquid, said transfer means being formed for drainage of liquid therethrough to said collecting means.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 having means below the transfer means for delivering breading liquid which drains through the transfer means to said collecting means.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said transfer means comprises a slide inclined downwardly from the forward side of the first cylinder to the top of the second cylinder with its upper and rearward end engaging the periphery of the first cylinder around and down from the top of the first cylinder'and its lower and forward end adjacent the periphery of the second cylinder rearward of the top of the second cylinder.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 having means for retaining a bed of breading on the second cylinder.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said retaining means comprises a lip on a tray located below said slide, said tray being inclined into said liquid collecting means, said lip engaging said second cylinder.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 having means under the second cylinder for collecting excess breading.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the means for delivering breading comprises a hopper for breading above the second cylinder, and wherein said apparatus has means for returning breading from said breading collecting means to said hopper.

14. Apparatus 13. set forth in claim 12 wherein said breading collecting means comprises a funnel and said breading return means comprises a bucket conveyor having a lower reach extending below the funnel and an upper reach extending over the hopper, and meansfor effecting dumping of breading from the buckets of the conveyor as they travel over the hopper.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said bucket conveyor. includes a pair of endless chains between which the buckets are pivotally mounted, said buckets normally being upright, and the dumping means comprises means for inverting the buckets as they travel over the hopper.

15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said breading liquid delivering means comprises means for spraying a curtain of liquid wider than the items to be breaded in rearward direction toward the top of the first cylinder adapted to maintain a pool of the liquid on top of the first cylinder.

16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said breading delivering means comprises means for delivering a curtain of breading wider than the items to be breaded on top of the second cylinder, said delivering means maintaining a bed of breading on top of the second cylinder.

17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said breading delivering means comprises a breading hopper having a bottom with a slot therein for gravity discharge of breading in said curtain, and means for adjusting the slot.

18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 having means under the first cylinder for collecting excess breading liquid, said transfer means being formed for drainage of liquid therethrough to said collecting means, and means below the transfer means for delivering breading 1 liquid which drains through the transfer means to said 

1. Apparatus for breading food items comprising first and second cylinders each rotatable on a generally horizontal axis, the second cylinder being located forward of the first cylinder means for transferring an item from the forward side of the first cylinder generally to the top of the second cylinder, said first cylinder being rotatable in the direction for conveying an item to be breaded deposited thereon generally at the top of the first cylinder to said transfer means for being transferred to the second cylinder, means for delivering a breading liquid to wet an item on the first cylinder, and means above said second cylinder for delivering breading thereto at the top thereof, said second cylinder being rotatable in the direction for conveying a wetted item which has been transferred thereto forward and under said breading delivering means.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 having a third cylinder located adjacent the second cylinder in position to squeeze a breaded item being conveyed forward by the second cylinder against the periphery of the second cylinder to compress said breaded item to a predetermined thickness.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first cylinder is vertically adjustable and said second and third cylinders are horizontally adjustable.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 including an exit slide having its upper end engaging the second cylinder down which breaded items slide out of the apparatus.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said exit slide is formed for passage of excess breading therethrough.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 having means under the first cylinder for collecting excess breading liquid, said transfer means being formed for drainage of liquid therethrough to said collecting means.
 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 having means below the transfer means for delivering breading liquid which drains through the transfer means to said collecting means.
 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said transfer means comprises a slide inclined downwardly from the forward side of the first cylinder to the top of the second cylinder with its upper and rearward end engaging the periphery of the first cylinder around and down from the top of the first cylinder and its lower and forward end adjacent the periphery of the second cylinder rearward of the top of the second cylinder.
 9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 having means for retaining a bed of breading on the second cylinder.
 10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said retaining means comprises a lip on a tray located below said slide, said tray being inclined into said liquid collecting means, said lip engaging said second cylinder.
 11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 having means under the second cylinder for collecting excess breading.
 12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the means for delivering breading comprises a hopper for breading above the second cylinder, and wherein said apparatus has means for returning breading from said breading collecting means to said hopper.
 14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said bucket conveyor includes a pair of endless chains between which the buckets are pivotally mounted, said buckets normally being upright, and the dumping means comprises means for inverting the buckets as they travel ovEr the hopper.
 14. Apparatus
 13. set forth in claim 12 wherein said breading collecting means comprises a funnel and said breading return means comprises a bucket conveyor having a lower reach extending below the funnel and an upper reach extending over the hopper, and means for effecting dumping of breading from the buckets of the conveyor as they travel over the hopper.
 15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said breading liquid delivering means comprises means for spraying a curtain of liquid wider than the items to be breaded in rearward direction toward the top of the first cylinder adapted to maintain a pool of the liquid on top of the first cylinder.
 16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said breading delivering means comprises means for delivering a curtain of breading wider than the items to be breaded on top of the second cylinder, said delivering means maintaining a bed of breading on top of the second cylinder.
 17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said breading delivering means comprises a breading hopper having a bottom with a slot therein for gravity discharge of breading in said curtain, and means for adjusting the slot.
 18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 having means under the first cylinder for collecting excess breading liquid, said transfer means being formed for drainage of liquid therethrough to said collecting means, and means below the transfer means for delivering breading liquid which drains through the transfer means to said collecting means, and wherein said transfer means comprises a slide inclined downwardly from the forward side of the first cylinder to the top of the second cylinder with its upper and rearward end engaging the periphery of the first cylinder around and down from the top of the first cylinder and its lower and forward ends adjacent the periphery of the second cylinder rearward of the top of the second cylinder, said slide comprising a bar removably mounted in the apparatus carrying a plurality of rods in side-by-side spaced relation. 